Welcome to Advocating for Health: The Many Faces of Health & Illness! This page is dedicated to my personal experiences with chronic health conditions & the medical system. This site is not a medical site/blog page, but rather, a commentary on my own personal journey through the medical world, my battles with symptoms and side affects related to the spinal abnormality called Spondylolisthesis, auto immune diseases, chronic illness & pain, and all of the details in-between.

Welcome! ... What is it like to live with a chronic illness?

Dealing with any chronic health condition, and/or illness, can be a daunting task in-and-of itself. While there are numerous aspects that affect one's everyday functioning and survival, one of the greatest frustrations is the lack of understanding, compassion, and tremendous judgement experienced by an individual struggling with any chronic health problem. While it may be difficult to relate to someone who battles a chronic illness, it is so important for those on the outside looking in to make their best attempt to understand their loved one's challenges.

Several years ago my mother stumbled upon a wonderfully written document called "The Spoon Theory." This piece details what it is like to live with a chronic health condition in simple and relatable terms. In my opinion, it is a must-read for anyone whom is seeking to better understand what it is like to live in a body which is chronically ill.

Trust me ... this piece is enlightening and extremely insightful.

This blog is a commentary on my own very personal, and sometimes very painful and challenging journey, with chronic health conditions (including the auto immune diseases Psoriatic Arthritis & Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Disease, Hyper-Mobility Syndrome, PCOS, as well as a spine condition called Spondylolisthesis), and the medical system. While I am not a doctor nor a medical professional of any kind, I am most definitely one very experienced patient! My hope is to share my gained knowledge and experiences with others who deal with similar issues.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

This document contains a compilation of resource links related to Spondylolisthesis. The main intention of this list is to offer everything from general information, treatments, surgical information, disability-related resources, and everything in-between that relates to Spondylolisthesis. I have begun by creating different "categories" as they come to mind. If you have any additional suggestions, please contact me so that I may add resource links to this list. I hope this selection may be helpful when seeking assistance and treatments for a wide array of matters to do with Spondylolisthesis! I will continue to add resource links as I find them, so please check back in the future if you don't see what you're currently looking for ... Please also feel free to contact me at spondyostories@gmail.comwith any questions regarding these and other resources!

*Are you interested in joining the *closed* Spondylolisthesis & Retrolisthesis Support Group on Facebook? Please click on the link and ask to join! My.Spondyo.Group

My most recent support group is called Spondylolisthesis & Pregnancy. If you are a female with this spine condition and would like support and information regarding pregnancy, please click the link and request o join: Spondyo.Pregnancy.Group

"The Spoon Theory" document/But You Don't Look Sick (Gives a wonderful sense of what it's like to live with a chronic health condition - A WONDERFUL way to get others in one's life to truly understand what it's like to live with a chronic illness and/or disability! This website, butyoudontlooksick.com, also offers a large array of additional resources.)

About Me

My interest for all things related to health & illness arises from my own struggles with chronic health conditions. I have found it most therapeutic & empowering to write about my many experiences within this realm. Through education, my own research, and my ongoing personal challenges, I am teaching myself how to become my own best advocate. To learn more about me, please see the page entitled "About Cat" located at the top of the page. If you have any questions or comments, you are welcome to contact me through the "about" section listed above, or email me at healthandillness@gmail.com. Please note that this address is also linked through my profiles. Blessings of health, energy and peace.

Questions? Comments? Use the Contact Form or Email healthandillness@gmail.com

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Additional Blogs, Websites & Resource Links

Please take a moment to check out the various related links below. I have included a list of my other blog websites (both health related and otherwise), as well as links to various online support groups. Lastly, I have included several links to sites which are relevant to the content found on this page; many of which provide excellent resources for all things involving health, chronic illness, and disability.